5 Things to Know About Monse’s Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: Designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia walk the runway at the at Monse show during Spring 2016 New York Fashion Week: The Shows at the Norwood Club on September 12, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Albert Urso/Getty Images)Getty Images

Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia are returning home.

Following Peter Copping’s exit from the company in July, the new creative directors will now be responsible for Oscar de la Renta’s ready-to-wear, accessories, bridal, and children’s collections. The brand will also provide logistical and operational support to their New York-based label Monse, which launched for the spring 2016 season and has already garnered fans, including Margot Robbie and Sarah Jessica Parker.

“For many years, Laura and Fernando worked here directing our design teams. Oscar respected their talent, and their work with him brought tremendous critical acclaim and success to the company,” said CEO Alex Bolen in a statement.

Previously, Kim worked under Oscar de la Renta himself as a studio director for 12 years. Garcia was there for six years, leaving with the title of senior designer. Earlier this year, the two worked at Carolina Herrera, where Kim joined as senior vice president of design and Garcia was hired as a consultant.

The influence of Kim and Garcia will be seen in the fall 2017 collection which debuts in February. Until then, here are five things to know about the new designers at the helm of Oscar de la Renta.

1. Linkedin helped them land their very first collection for Monse at Net-a-Porter. Kim cold-messaged Sarah Rutson, Net-a-Porter's vice president of global buying, over the networking site. The duo sent Rutson an elevator pitch on the label, and she responded with feedback and suggestions on how to price the collection.

Sarah Jessica Parker at the 2016 Met Gala.

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2. The label’s celebrity following began even before the pair’s first show at New York Fashion Week. Both Sarah Jessica Parker and Amal Clooney had been spotted wearing the shirt-inspired dresses—the duo also worked on Clooney's wedding dress. Parker has continued to show support for the label when she donned a Hamilton-inspired Monse outfit at this year’s Met Gala.

A look from Monse spring 2016.

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3. Kim and Fernando take a completely different approach to designing at Monse versus Oscar de la Renta. Whereas Oscar de la Renta focuses on conservative eveningwear, Monse made its debut with deconstructed men’s shirting turned into dresses. “We sold to a lot of stores that bought older clients’ clothes, because I know them. But now I’m realizing that our customer is really different from the Oscar customer,” Kim told the New York Times.

4. They’re a couple. As for wedding plans, Kim told WWD shortly after they launched Monse last year that the occasion would have to wait. “I think I spent all of my budget on this show. There will be no wedding budget—maybe when we start a bridal line.”

5. The plan for Oscar de la Renta’s new look? “I always remember Oscar wanting the newest thing,” Kim told the New York Times. “I think he wanted us to move forward but keep it very Oscar. He was the one pushing us, to see the newest, youngest ideas and materials.”